Zipper foot attachment for sewing machines



y 7, 1966 R. B. HOWELL 3,251,326

ZIPPER FOOT ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed June 16, 1965 FlG ROBERT B. HOWELL 1.'\ VEATOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 'Office 3,251,326 Patented May 17, 1966 3,251,326 ZIPPER FOOT ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Robert E. Howell, Seattle, Wash, assignor to Unique Zipper Distributing Co., Seattle, Wash, a corporation of Washington Filed June 16, 1965, Ser. No. 464,353 8 Claims. (Cl. 112-240) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application, Zipper Foot Attachment For Sewing Machines, Serial Number 228,481, filed October 4, 1962.

The present invention relates generally to a specialized component for sewing machines known as a zipper foot attachment and particularly to a unique adapter and improved means for securing the adapter to a zipper foot whereby the zipper foot may be used with a variety of household sewing machines presently on the market. More specifically, the present invention provides an adapter for a zipper foot which permits the zipper foot to be utilized in sewing machines known in the art as zigzag machines wherein the up-and-down movement of the sewing needle is olfset from the standard straight stitch machines, and an improved structure for connecting such adapter to a zipper foot.

The zipper foot attachment to which the present invention relates is described and illustrated in complete detail in my copending patent application, Zipper Foot Attachment For Sewing Machines, Serial Number 228,481, filed October 4, 1962. Specific reference is made to my copending patent application for additional explanation of the function of the zipper foot and its cooperation with household sewing machines. As explained in my copending patent application, the problem exists of providing a single zipper foot attachment which can be adapted to be secured to various types of presser bars on a variety of household sewing machines. This problem involves providing efiicient means for securing various adapters to the zipper foot for attaching the foot to various types of presser bars and additionally, the present invention provides means for accommodating the offset position of the needle in zig-zag type sewing machines.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide improved means for securing an adapter to a zipper foot attachment and to provide a further attachment for the adapter whereby the zipper foot will accommodate an offset position of the sewing needle, thereby extending the utility of the zipper foot attachment to zig-zag sewing machines as well as straight line sewing machines.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the zipper footattachment with the assembled position of the adapter shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the zipper foot attachment.

shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the adapter;

FIG; 4 is an exploded side elevational view of the adapter and the offset attachment for the adapter;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the zipper foot attachment with the adapter and offset attachment in assembled position; and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional detail taken along lines 66 of FIG. 5 illustrating the means for securing the offset attachment to the adapter.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate identical parts in the various views, the zipper foot attachment or component is indicated generally at 1 in FIG. 1 and is integral in structure comprising a zipper foot 2, an ankle 3 upstanding from the heel 4 of the, foot, and a forked portion 6 comprising two laterally spaced tines 7, which extend rearwardly from the upper portion of the ankle. As shown herein, a reinforcing web 8 is provided on each side of the foot component, each web extending from the lower outside edge of a respective time 7 to a respective continuous rear outside edge of the ankle 3 and heel 4. Each of the tines 7 project inwardly a moderate distance beyond its related web 8 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to form a related downwardly facing, longitudinal shoulder 9.

The particular configuration of the foot portion 2 of the component 1 is old in the art. The bottom of the foot is formed with two side-by-side longitudinal slots 11, each to serve as a guideway for a related one of the two rows of zipper teeth which are to be fastened to a garment. At the longitudinal center line of the toe 12 of the foot 2 is a vertical through opening 13 to receive the sewing machine needle in a manner to be properly located so as to execute its up-and-down sewing motion.

The manner inwhich the foot 2 functions in cooperation with the needle and presser foot of a sewing machine to install a zipper on a garment is illustrated and described in detail in my copending patent application and is well known in the prior art. As also explained in my copending application, the zipper foot component 1 is adaptable for direct attachment to the type of presser bar having an inverted vertically extending hold screw, the head of which engages the downwardly facing shoulders 9 of the tines 7, and a vertically aligned hold nut so as to fix the foot directly to the bottom end of the presser bar in proper working position. In this case no adapter for the zipper foot is necessary.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, an adapter is indicated generally at 14 for attachment to the zipper foot component 1 for securing a particular type of vertical presser bar (not shown). The particular type of adapter shown is that for accommodating a long shank sewing machine presser bar having a transversely extending horizontally disposed clamp screw as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The overall configuration of the adapter 14, as viewed from above as shown in FIG. 5, is that of a U-shaped member, comprising forward and rear legs 16 and 17 respectively which are joined by'a longitudinally extending web 18.- One side of each of the legs 16 and 17 is formed with a projection 19 and 21 (FIG. 4) respectively which extends from the web 18 to the top edge of the legs. The legs 16 and 17 form a vertical channel-like recess 22 with the projections 19 and 21 providing an internal shoulder in vertical alignment with one edge of the slot 23 provided by the tines 7. The recess 22 is designed to receive a vertical presser bar which is held within the recess by a transverse clamping screw (not shown) which is conventional in the art. For use of the zipper foot attachment in combination with straight line sewing machines wherein the presser bar is in alignment with the needle, the presser bar would, of course, be in contact with the shoulder provided by the projections 19 and 21.

In accordance with present invention, the adapter 14 is provided with an integral fiat base 24 which connects the bottom ends of the legs 16 and 17 and engages the top surfaces of the tines 7 of the zipper foot and the top surface of the ankle portion 3 of the foot when the adapter is in place as illustrated in FIG. 1. The base portion 24 of the adapter is provided with a downwardly extending guide or key 26 which is substantially identical in thickness to the thickness of the tines 7 of the foot and of a width equal to the width of the slot 23 between the tines and a slot 27 formed in the' top edge of the ankle portion 3 of the foot as shown in FIG. 1. One of the tines will include an inwardly projecting catch or lock 23 having a cam surface 29 which functions to lock the adapter in place as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The bottom face of the key 26 is provided with a flat locking member or plate 31 which is generally rectangular in plan and integral with the key 26. The plate 31 projects a slight distance laterally from each side of the key 26 with the overall width of the member 31 being substantially equal to the distance'between the webs 8 of the foot. With this arrangement, a slot is formed on each side of the key 26 as defined by the bottom of the base 24 and the top surface of the projecting portion of the member 31. As shown in FIG. 4, the member 31 terminates short of the forward edge of the key 26 so as to limit forward movement of the adapter 14 with respect to the foot when the parts are assembled. As shown in FIG. 5, the projection 28 engages the rear end of the key 26 so as to prevent rearward motion of the adapter with respect to the foot.

In assembling the adapter on the foot, the key 26 is guided between the tines 7 by the cam surface 29 and the tines 7 are slightly spread in order to allow the key 26 to enter the slot 23 therebetween. As soon as the key 26 is in place as shown in FIG. 5, the tines snap together and hold the key 26 securely-in place. The locking member 31, of course, prevents the adapter from being lifted vertically out of the foot.

To remove the adapter, it is merely necessary to spring the tines apart slightly and to slide the adapter rearwardly out of the slot 23.

As previously mentioned, in straight stitch machines, the presser bar will be located in the vertical recess 22 of the adapter and the stitching needle will be in alignment with the needle hole 13. Since many of the machines on the market are of the zigzag type with the needle position located offset from the presser bar, it is necessary to provide an attachment for the adapter 14 so as to align the needle hole 13 of the zipper foot attachment with the machine needle. In most zig-Zag machines, the needle is located approximately Ms inch to the left of the needle hole 13 of the foot. For this purpose, an offset attachment 32 is provided for the adapter 14 and is designed to be inserted within the vertical recess 22 between the legs 16 and 17 of the adapter. As shown in FIG. 4, the attachment 32 is substantially U-shaped in configuration and comprises the vertical legs 33 and 34 and a connector portion 36. The attachment 32 acts as a shim within the vertical recess 22 of the adapter and its transverse thickness will be equal to the offset distance of the needle of the zig-zag machine from the normal position of the straight stitch machine which will usually be in the neighbhorhood of A; of an inch. The attachment 32 is inserted downwardly between the vertical legs 16 and 17 as illustrated in FIG. so as to obtain a snug fit. The attachment may be held within the recess 22 by means of suitable raised portions 37 on the inside surfaces of the legs 16 and 17 (FIG. 6) which engage suitable recesses 38 in the legs of the attachment so as to act in the nature of a detent.

In operation, the adapter 14 is assembled by sliding the key 26 between the tines 7 of the zipper foot until the catch or lock 28 snaps into place and the adapter is then tightly secured to the zipper foot component. The shim or offset attachment 32 may then be inserted downwardly in the recess 22 of the adapter and snapped into place and the assembly is ready for mounting on the presser bar of a zig-zag sewing machine with the needle of the machine being in alignment with the needle hole 13 of the zipper foot.

It is believed that the invention will have been clearly understood from the foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated. Changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention and it is accordingly my intention that no limitations be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given the broadest interpretation to which the employed language fairly admits.

Having thus described the invention what is new and is desired to be covered by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a zipper foot component having laterally spaced tines providing upper and lower surfaces for mounting a vertically disposed clamp screw for engagement which the bottom end of a substantially vertical first presser bar or for mounting an adapter having means for mounting a horizontally disposed clamp screw for engagement with a lateral face of a substantially vertical second presser bar, an adapter, and a locking mechanism for locking said adapter to said foot component comprising, a fiat bottom surface on said adapter for engaging the top surface of said tines, an elongated key extending downwardly from said bottom surface passing snugly between said tines, a locking member on the bottom of said key, said locking means being integral with said key and having side portions protruding laterally beyond said key for engaging the lower surface of said tines, and an inwardly protruding catch on one of said tines for engaging an end of said key to hold said key from endwise movement from between said tines, whereby the key of said adapter may be inserted between said tines and snapped into locked position.

2. In a foot attachment device having a foot component with an upstanding ankle portion and rearwardly extending tines fixed to said ankle portion defining a slot for receiving a first presser bar to be secured by hold screw means, an adapter device comprising a body portion having a generally vertical recess for receiving a second presser bar, means for locking said adapter device with respect to said foot component with said recess in alignment with said slot, said recess including a laterally facing surface for engaging a mating surface on said second presser bar, and an offset attachment for said adapter, said offset attachment being located within said recess and presenting a second laterally facing surface spaced from said first surface for accommodating said second presser bar offset from the center line of said slot.

3. In a foot attachment device having a foot component with an upstanding ankle portion, rearwardly extending tines fixed to said ankle portion defining a slot for receiving a first selected presser bar to be secured by hold screw means, a needle hole aligned with the center line of said slot, an adapter device comprising a U-shaped body portion defining a generally vertical recess for receiving a second selected presser bar aligned with said needle hole, means for locking said adapter device with respect to said foot component with said recess in alignment with said slot, said recess including a first laterally facing surface for engaging a mating surface of said second presser bar,

' and an offset attachment for said adapter, said offset attachment being located within said recess and presenting a second laterally facing surface spaced from said first surface for accommodating said second presser bar offset from the center line of said slot and said needle hole.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein, said U-shaped body portion includes .an elongated vertical opening to permit passage to hold screw means for securing second presser bar within said recess, and said offset attachment is U-shaped with the legs thereof extending on either side of said elongated opening.

5. The combination according to claim 4 including detent means for releasably holding said offset attachment within said recess.

6. In combination with a zipper foot component having laterally spaced tines extending rearwardly for mounting a vertically disposed clamp screw of a first presser bar or for mounting an adapter having means for mounting a horizontally disposed clamp screw of a second presser bar, an adapter having a vertical recess in alignment with the slot between said tines, said recess including a first laterally facing surface for receiving said second presser bar aligned with said slot, locking mechanism for locking said adapter to said foot component comprising means provid ing longitudinal grooves oneither side of the bottom of said adapter for receiving said tines with a snug fit, means on said foot component and said adapter for limiting forward movement of said adapter relative to said tines, catch means on at least one of said tines for engaging an end of said adapter to hold said adapter in its forward limit position, whereby said adapter may be inserted between said tines and locked into position, and an ofiset attachment for said adapter, said ofiset attachment being located within said recess and presenting a second laterally facing surface spaced from said first surface for accommodating said second presser bar offset from said slot.

7. The combination according to claim 6 including passage means in said adapter and said offset attachment to permit passage of hold screw means for securing said presser bar within said recess.

8. In combination with a zipper foot component having laterally spaced tines providing upper and lower surfaces for mounting a vertically disposed clamp screw for engagement with the bottom end of a substantially vertical first presser .bar or for mounting an adapter having means for mounting a horizontally disposed clamp screw for engagement with a lateral face of a substantially vertical second presser bar, an adapter, and a locking mechanism for locking said adapter to said foot component comprising a flat bottom surface on said adapter for engaging the top surface of said tines, an elongated key extending downwardly from said bottom surface passing between said tines, a locking member on the bottom of said key having side portions protruding laterally beyond said key for engaging the lower surface of said tines, means on said foot component for contacting said locking member to limit movement of said adapter relative to said tines in one direction, and an inwardly protruding catch on one of said tines for engaging an end of said key at the limit position of said adapter in said one direction and acting to prevent movement of the adapter in the opposite direction to properly position said adapter in a predetermined position, whereby the key of said adapter may be inserted between said tines and snapped into locked position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 133,201 11/1872 Chabot et al 112-240 285,937 10/1883 Thomas 112240 349,439 9/1886 Looker 1l2--240 X 1,930,628 10/1933 Smallbone 1l2-240 3,003,444 10/1961 Gary 112235 FOREIGN PATENTS 548,188 11/1954 Canada.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A ZIPPER FOOT COMPONENT HAVING LATERALLY SPACED TINES PROVIDING UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES FOR MOUNTING A VERTICALLY DISPOSED CLAMP SCREW FOR ENGAGEMENT WHICH THE BOTTOM END OF A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL FIRST PRESSER BAR OR FOR MOUNTING AN ADAPTER HAVING MEANS FOR MOUNTING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED CLAMP SCREW FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A LATERAL FACE OF A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL SECOND PRESSER BAR, AN ADAPTER, AND A LOCKING MECHANISM FOR LOCKING SAID ADAPTER TO SAID FOOT COMPONENT COMPRISING, A FLAT BOTTOM SURFACE ON SAID ADAPTER FOR ENGAGING THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID TINES, AN ELONGATED KEY EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID BOTTOM SURFACE PASSING SNUGLY BETWEEN SAID TINES, A LOCKING MEMBER ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID KEY, SAID LOCKING MEANS BEING INTEGRAL WITH SAID KEY AND HAVING SIDE PORTIONS PROTRUDING LATERALLY BEYOND SAID KEY FOR ENGAGING THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID TINES, AND AN INWARDLY PROTRUDING CATCH ON ONE OF SAID TINES FOR ENGAGING AN END OF SAID KEY TO HOLD SAID KEY FROM ENDWISE MOVEMENT FROM BETWEEN SAID TINES, WHEREBY THE KEY OF SAID ADAPTER MAY BE INSERTED BETWEEN SAID TINES AND SNAPPED INTO LOCKED POSITION. 